Queretaro 2, DC United 0 | CONCACAF Champions League Match Recap

Yerson Candelo - Queretaro vs. D.C. United CCL - Feb. 23, 2016


D.C. United had chances to take the lead, but could not capitalize and suffered a 2-0 loss to Queretaro in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series on Tuesday night in Mexico. Yerson Candelo scored the winner for the Mexican side in the 71st minute with a spectacular finish from distance, and Edgar Benitez gave Queretaro some breathing room with a slotted effort 12 minutes later.


Taylor Kemp almost put D.C. ahead before either of those strikes, but his shot from outside the penalty area smacked the crossbar on the hour mark. Steve Birnbaum also had three chances to give the MLS club the lead, but he was denied each time by Queretaro goalkeeper Tiago Volpi.


Box Score


  • 71' -- QUE -- Yerson Candelo (Angel Sepulveda)
  • 83' -- QUE -- Edgar Benitez (Sinha)
  • Full box score
  • Stats


Three Things


  1. UNITED SLIPS: D.C. United suffered just their third loss in their last 15 CONCACAF Champions League matches. The MLS side had entered the match in Mexico with an impressive 11-2-1 record in its most recent matches in the competition. The shutout also stopped a 19-game scoring streak in the competition for DC.
  2. WASTED OPPORTUNITIES: This was not a game in which D.C. sat back and absorbed pressure. Ben Olsen's side pushed forward into the attack, and they finished with more total shots (17-16) and shots on goal (9-8) than Queretaro although they had nothing to show for it.
  3. D.C. DEBUT: Tuesday's showdown might be largely forgettable for D.C. United fans because of the result, but some will remember it because it marked the debut of Luciano Acosta. The 21-year-old Argentine attacker started the match and played 76 minutes.


They Said It


"I think a draw or a 1-0 [loss] would have been a fairer result, but this is sport. Now we have to go back to D.C. and score a couple of goals of our own.ā€


Ben Olsen, D.C. United head coach

Next Up


  • D.C.: Tuesday 3/1 vs. Queretaro (8 pm ET)